Training apparatus for improving a golfer's putting technique

Claim 2

For use on a putting surface with a putter and a golf ball, a training apparatus for improving putting, comprising: a base for placement on the putting surface adjacent the golf ball; a cantilever extending outwardly from said base over the putting surface, said cantilever being constructed of a transparent material; and elongated visual guide means carried by said cantilever adjacent the outer edge thereof, said guide means including an upper guide strip and a lower guide strip of contrasting colors or shades, said guide strips supported horizontally, one above the other, in spaced vertical relation; said base, when in use, being oriented on the putting surface so that said upper and lowr guide strips are positioned directly over the golf ball and so that the longitudinal axes of said guide strips are aligned with the direction in which the golf ball is to be putted; said cantilever and said visual guide means being sized so that the head of the putter passes readily thereunder to strike the golf ball, without bearing on any portion of the apparatus.

Claim 3

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 1, wherein said cantilever includes a series of spaced horizontal lines, at right angles to said guide means, whereby the golfer is provided references to help him maintain the face of said putter head perpendicular to the direction in which said golf ball is sought to be putted.

Claim 4

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 2, wherein said horizontal lines are spaced substantially periodically along the entire length of said cantilever.

Claim 5

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacing of said cantilever and said visual guide means above the putting surface is only slightly greater than the height of the golf ball and the head of the putter when properly positioned thereunder.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper guide strip is narrower than said lower guide strip, whereby a golfer can observe said lower guide strip on both sides of said upper guide strip when his eyes are positioned directly thereover.

Claim 7

For use on a putting surface with a putter and a golf ball, a training apparatus for improving putting, comprising: a base for placement on the putting surface adjacent the golf ball; a cantilever extending outwardly from said base over the putting surface, said cantilever being constructed of a transparent material; and elongated visual guide means carried by said cantilever adjacent the outer edge thereof; said cantilever including a series of spaced reference lines, normal to the longitudinal axis of said visual guide means; said base, when in use, being oriented on the putting surface so that said visual guide means is positioned directly over the golf ball and so that the longitudinal axis of said guide means is aligned with the direction in which the golf ball is to be putted; said cantilever and said visual guide means being sized so that the head of the putter passes readily thereunder to strike the golf ball, without bearing on any portion of the apparatus.

Claim 8

For use on a putting surface with a putter and a golf ball, a training apparatus for improving putting, comprising: a base for placement on the putting surface adjacent the golf ball; a cantilever extending outwardly from said base over the putting surface, said cantilever being constructed of a transparent material; and elongated visual guide means carried by said cantilever adjacent the outer edge thereof; said cantilever including a series of spaced reference lines, normal to the longitudinal axis of said visual guide means; said base, when in use, being oriented on the putting surface so that said visual guide means is positioned directly over the golf ball and so that the longitudinal axis of said guide means is aligned with the direction in which the golf ball is to be putted; said cantilever and said visual guide means being sized so that the head of the putter passes readily thereunder to strike the golf ball, without bearing on any portion of the apparatus.

Claim 9

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 6, wherein said guide means includes an upper guide strip and a lower guide strip, said guide strips being supported substantially horizontally one above the other in spaced vertical relation, whereby a golfer can position his eyes directly over said guide strips.

Claim 10

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 7, wherein said upper guide strip and said lower guide strip are of contrasting colors or shades, whereby the golfer can readily distinguish one guide strip from the other when his eyes are positioned thereover.

Claim 11

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 8, wherein said upper guide strip is narrower than said lower guide strip, whereby the golfer can observe said lower guide strip on both sides of said upper guide strip when his eyes are positioned directly over said guide strips.

Claim 12

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 8, wherein the spacing of said cantilever and said visual guide means above the putting surface is only slightly greater than the height of the golf ball and the head of the putter when properly positioned thereunder.

Claim 13

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 6, wherein said base includes sidewalls defining a receptacle for storing items such as golf balls.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said guide means comprises a hollow channel structure formed along the outer edge of said cantilever, the upper face thereof carrying a guide strip thereon of one color and the lower face thereof carrying a guide strip thereon of a contrasting color or shade and in vertical alignment therewith.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said upper face guide strip is narrower than said lower face guide strip, whereby a golfer can observe said lower guide strip on both sides of said upper guide strip when his eyes are positioned directly thereover.

Claim 16

A training apparatus for improving putting, as defined in claim 6, wherein said reference lines are spaced substantially periodically along the entire length of said cantilever.

Claim 17

For use on a putting surface with a putter and a golf ball, a training apparatus for improving putting, comprising; a base for placement on the putting surface adjacent the golf ball; a cantilever extending outwardly from said base over the putting surface, said cantilever being constructed of a transparent material; and elongated visual guide means carried by said cantilever adjacent the outer edge thereof, said guide means including an upper guide strip and a lower guide strip, said guide strips being of contrasting shades or colors and supported horizontally, one above the other, in spaced vertical relation, said upper guide strip being narrower than said lower guide strip, whereby a golfer can observe said lower guide strip on both sides of said upper guide strip when his eyes are positioned directly thereabove; said cantilever including a series of reference lines spaced substantially periodically along the entire length thereof, said reference lines being normal to the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower guide strips; said base, when in use, being oriented on the putting surface so that said upper and lower guide strips are positioned directly over the golf ball and so that the longitudinal axes of said guide strips are aligned with the direction in which the golf ball is to be putted; said cantilever and said visual guide means being sized and, when in use, being spaced above the putting surface so that the head of the putter must be maintained in relatively close relation to the putting surface throughout a stroke of the golf ball and so that the head of the putter does not bear on any portion of the apparatus.

Claim 18

For use on a putting surface with a putter and a golf ball, a training apparatus for improving putting, comprising; a base for placement on the putting surface adjacent the golf ball; a cantilever extending outwardly from said base over the putting surface, said cantilever being constructed of a transparent material; and elongated visual guide means carried by said cantilever adjacent the outer edge thereof, said guide means including an upper guide strip and a lower guide strip, said guide strips being of contrasting shades or colors and supported horizontally, one above the other, in spaced vertical relation, said upper guide strip being narrower than said lower guide strip, whereby a golfer can observe said lower guide strip on both sides of said upper guide strip when his eyes are positioned directly thereabove; said cantilever including a series of reference lines spaced substantially periodically along the entire length thereof, said reference lines being normal to the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower guide strips; said base, when in use, being oriented on the putting surface so that said upper and lower guide strips are positioned directly over the golf ball and so that the longitudinal axes of said guide strips are aligned with the direction in which the golf ball is to be putted; said cantilever and said visual guide means being sized and, when in use, being spaced above the putting surface so that the head of the putter must be maintained in relatively close relation to the putting surface throughout a stroke of the golf ball and so that the head of the putter does not bear on any portion of the apparatus.